Coronavirus: NBA to suspend season following Wednesday's games

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The NBA suspended the season Wednesday night after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, that player is All-Star center Rudy Gobert.

According to a league statement, the player's test result was reported just prior to the start of Wednesday night's game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, the game was cancelled.

The NBA announced it was indefinitely suspending the season following the completion of Wednesday's games. About an hour later, however, the Kings' game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Golden 1 Center was called off shortly before tipoff.

The G League announced it would also suspend its season hours after the NBA's announcement.

Shortly before tipoff in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, the Thunder's head medical doctor sprinted out on the court to discuss the situation with the officials. At that point, the two teams were sent back to their locker rooms, and minutes later, the arena PA announcer informed those in attendance that the game had been postponed. 

In a statement released Wednesday night, the Warriors said they "completely support" the decision to suspend the season.

"As we noted earlier today, with the escalating situation surrounding COVID-19, we find ourselves in a rapidly-changing environment by the day, if not the hour," the statement read. "We have seen that precise scenario unfold over the course of today and we completely support the NBA’s decision to suspend our season until further notice. The health and safety of our fans, staff and players has always been, and always will be, our top priority."

Earlier Wednesday evening, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the consensus from the NBA Board of Governors was to continue the current season with no fans at games, pending commissioner Adam Silver's approval. 

The commissioner was expected to make a determination Thursday, but it appears the unusual scene in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night expedited that process.

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